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Tag: Nigerian Newspapers

  • Pregnant woman bites rapist’s genitals – Police

    Pregnant woman bites rapist’s genitals – Police

    South African Police said they are on the lookout for a man with severely injured genitalia who allegedly raped a pregnant woman, who bit him in self-defence.

    Local police spokesman Leonard Hlathi told newsmen on Wednesday that the woman, who was in the third month of her pregnancy, was raped at knife point.

    “She was rape in front of her young child after she hitched a lift with two men in eastern Mpumalanga province.

    “One of the men forcefully raped her at knife point in front of her child,’’ a police statement read.

    The crime occurred on Monday.

    “The woman managed to bite the private part of the man, who ran away after the ordeal,’’ it added.

    Police, however, appealed to all health institutions to contact the authorities if they find a man with “an injured private part.”

    The police also put out a tweet on their official account calling for information on the case.

    Also Read: Police killed 13 during 2017 protest

    Hlathi told newsmen that in spite of his bad injuries, the man had managed to flee.

    “It is not the first time that men bitten on the genitals have managed to escape,’’ he said.

    He said that the woman is being treated by a psychologist, and noted that in South Africa “sexual offence cases are high.”

    South Africa recorded a total of 39,828 rapes in 2016 to 2017, an average of around 109 per day.

    However, the figures may be even higher, with think tank Africa Check warning that rape may be under-reported.

    (dpa/NAN)

  • Gridlock on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as schools resume

    Gridlock on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway as schools resume

    Some road users on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Monday raised alarm over the gridlock caused by road construction projects as schools resumed  from the Yuletide break.

    The road users appealed to the Lagos State Government to adopt measures to reduce hardship on the expressway.

    A NAN correspondent, who took a trip on the highway, reports that several commuters were stranded at various bus-stops on the highway as commercial vehicles were trapped in gridlock.

    An engineer and resident of Shasha, Mr Dayo Ogunware, said the inner roads were blocked due to the pressure on the highway caused by ongoing  construction  of  the Abule-Egba flyover project in Agege.

    Ogunware explained that the Agege axis serves as alternative routes to vehicles from Sango Ota and its environs.

    He  appealed to the Lagos State Government to ensure  the project was speedily executed to reduce the hardship faced by road users.

    “It was difficult to get vehicle this morning.

    “Traffic diversion from Agege Pen Cinema inward Agege Motor Road toward  Abeokuta Expressway as a result of the Abule Egba Flyover project is the cause of this problem.

    “The state government ought to have completed the ongoing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane construction project on Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway before embarking on the construction of the Abule Egba flyover.

    Read also: Gridlock on ports’ access roads will reduce in January

    “The completion of the BRT lane would have contained the traffic diversion from Pen Cinema,” he said.

    A civil servant, Mrs Tade Olukoya, said she spent hours on the road because of the gridlock and blamed the state government for poor planning.

    “We know government is working for our good but they should consider the stress we go through and plan better.

    “They should create alternatives for us, the whole of this area is locked down because government wants to construct many roads at the same time,” she said.

    However, Mr Tomi Olarenwaju, a businessman said the hardship was the price to pay for development.

    “The BRT lane when completed would eliminate traffic on this expressway, same for the flyover in Agege, I think we need to be a bit patient,” he said.

    A school teacher,  Mrs Herrieta Uzorigwe, blamed the gridlock on resumption of workers from the holiday and first day of resumption for schools.

    Uzorigwe, however, called  for urgent measures to tackle the gridlock to reduce hardship on the highway.

    Mallam Abubakar Tukur, a tea vendor, appealed for speedy completion of both the Abule Egba flyover and BRT lane construction to ease the gridlock.

    NAN

  • NUT seeks better package for primary schools

    NUT seeks better package for primary schools

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT ), Lagos chapter, has called the State Government to address primary schools and improve the welfare of their teachers.

    Mr Adeshina Adedoyin, the state Deputy Chairman of the union, made the appeal in an interview on Monday in Lagos.

    Adedoyin noted that primary school infrastructure needed uplift, while teachers had not benefitted from the government especially in the area of promotion.

    He said though the state government had been informed about the development and had in turn promised to address the situation, an urgent solution was needed.

    Read also: NUT begins strike over teachers’ sack in Kaduna

    According to him, delay in the implementation of the welfare with reference to promotion will affect so many things.

    “As schools resume in this new year, it is important that primary education be considered especially the welfare of teachers and in the scheme of things.

    “It is because it could boost the morale of the teachers if they are given the same treatment as their counter parts in secondary schools.

    “I know that the state government have being workers friendly and would do the needful to address the situation,” the unionist said.

    However, he appreciated the state government for the 30 per cent bonus that was given to workers during the yuletide.

    The labour leader also urged teachers to put in their best to appreciate the effort of the government which pays salaries as at when due.

    “Members should do more to complement the effort of the government; all hands should be on deck.

    “Lagos state government have maintained a good name generally and I know that the good name will not be dragged into the mud.

    “Teachers should not bask in the euphoria of the improved annual performance impression of students but do more so as to sustain it,” he said.

    Besides, the unionist urged government to ensure that schools prone to security threat especially the boarding houses were secured with community policing and para-military.

    NAN

  • 2nd quarter GDP ranked most uploaded report in 2017 – NBS

    2nd quarter GDP ranked most uploaded report in 2017 – NBS

    Dr Yemi Kale, the Chief Executive Officer of National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) said the Second Quarter 2017 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Report was one of the most uploaded reports in 2017.

    Kale, the Statistician – General of the Federation said this in his 2018 message posted on the bureau’s website.

    He said the report was followed by the National Survey on Corruption Perception, each with more than 5000 uploads within 120 days of their release.

    “My personal engagement with a vastly diverse sample of our clients convinces me of the growing appreciation for Nigeria’s official statistics. Yet, we can and must do better,’’ he said.

    Kale said with the country’s emergence from economic recession in the second quarter, came greater demand for data by policymakers and business leaders seeking to identify how to sustain the recovery.

    “Also to sustain the implementation of policies, prioritise programmes and ensure that the Nigerian economy gets on a more sustainable path of inclusive growth.

    “Concerned citizens, eager to witness immediate changes in their socio-economic circumstances, also paid closer attention to statistical reports,’’ he said.

    The statistician-general said 2017 witnessed a considerable uptick in activities of NBS, driven in large part by an ever-growing demand for more and better data by governments, businesses and citizens.

    “As 2018 beckons, it is clear that we are unlikely to see a slowdown in such demand, and I am pleased to affirm that NBS is ready, willing and able to rise to the occasion again this year.

    Read also: NBS to release 179 reports on economy

    “No doubt, 2017 was a remarkable year. A total of 198 reports were released, an increase of 85 per cent over 2016,’’ he said.

    According to him, NBS is committed to surpassing these milestones in 2018, as seen in its revised data release calendar, 189 reports are already planned.

    “As usual, they will be accompanied by clear, informative infographic materials, and disseminated widely across all our social media platforms.

    “We remain committed to quality improvement across all our service delivery channels, in order to continually justify our multiple awards in 2017.

    “As ever, the bureau will remain steadfast in guarding its professional and operational independence granted by the Statistics Act (2007), especially as the political climate builds up.’’

    The statistician-general said that efforts would be made to provide adequate explanations and context for data releases, and prioritise statistical advocacy efforts to limit the misuse of data.

    Kale, however, acknowledged the support of government at all levels and institutional partners towards improving the availability and quality of official statistics in the country.

    The statistician-general prayed that 2018 would be a year of better statistical funding, both at the federal level and to state statistical agencies.

    He said the importance of statistical data for identifying development priorities and shaping public policy should not be subjected to vagaries of the socio-economic or political climate.

    “Rather, leaders must continually emphasise and utilise evidence-based approaches, whether in policy or business.

    “If this is not done, it becomes impossible to objectively identify key areas in our society that actually require change.

    “It will be difficult to accurately determine what policy prescriptions will best respond to the real needs of the country or take advantage of the next big business opportunity in this resilient economy.

    “We are confident that the year will bring numerous opportunities for us to effectively support policymakers.

    “We look forward to another fulfilling year for us at the bureau, our partners and data users,’’ Kale said.

    NAN

  • NANS sets up monitoring team on petrol prices, sales

    NANS sets up monitoring team on petrol prices, sales

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ), has set up a monitoring team on petrol pricing, distribution and sales, its President, Mr Chinonso Obasi has said.

    Obasi, in a statement made available on Monday in Abuja, said Nigerians were facing hardship imposed on them by profiteers.

    He regretted that Nigerians during the Yuletide experienced challenges by paying over 300 per cent hike in transport fares moving for both Christmas and New Year celebrations.

    According to him, the hardship has not abated as Nigerians still buy petrol at N250 per litre in some places.

    He called on Nigerians to resist the rip-off and also reject any hike in petrol price.

    “It is an undeniable fact that petrol is being sold at prices inimical to the economic well-being of consumers; across the nation, the prices rather than decreasing is increasing. This is totally unacceptable.

    Read also: NANS describes killings as ‘cruel’, condoles with victims, government

    “No doubt, in spite of the availability of the petrol, many unmerited yet unexplainable reasons have been given as excuses for this unabated exploitation.

    “As the official pump price remains at N145, we urge Nigerians not to pay more; the NNPC and the independent marketers should urgently resolve this hardship and assure Nigerians that their days of worries over petroleum prices are a priority.

    “To this end, we hereby announce the setting up of NANS Task Force Committee on Compliance on Petroleum Distribution, Pricing and Sales.’’

    He said Nigerians could no longer continue to bear the brunt of the activities of saboteurs.

    He said the committee would begin work immediately and was saddled with the responsibility of working with government agencies willing to ensure compliance.

    “NANS wishes to solidarise with Nigerians by condemning this man made hardship imposed on Nigerians and unreservedly call on the Department of Petroleum Products and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority to swiftly halt the exploitation of Nigerians,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Yam farmers assure Nigerians of increased production, price increases

    Yam farmers assure Nigerians of increased production, price increases

    Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria has assured Nigerians of increased yam production in 2018 so as to boost the yam export initiative of the Federal Government.

    The Acting President of the association, Prof Simon Irtwange, gave the assurance in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

    He said farmers had been mobilised to increase their production in order to make provision for the local consumption and export requirements.

    Irtwange, who is also the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Nigeria Yam Export Programme, said efforts were made to build the capacity of yam aggregators to buy exportable yams in large quantities from farmers after harvests.

    He said yam exporters, instead of going to markets to buy yams, could procure the yams from the aggregators who already knew the standards for exportable yams.

    He said the committee was partnering with the Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, for the production of seedlings of exportable yams so as to boost the production of the yams and encourage farmers.

    “I will not agree that export has anything to do with the local production because not every yam variety can be exported.

    “The ones that are exportable are the ones that meet export standards. The export requirements include 2kg. yams that are slender and smooth, while the non-export yams are purely for local consumption.

    Read also: Yam export: Committee plans export of 480 tonnes monthly

    “We have also encouraged yam production; this year, we would have more output than what we had in the previous year because farmers are now sensitised and they have gone into massive production. So, there will be enough yams for the local market and export.

    “We have already selected the yam varieties we want to promote for export but the seedlings for those varieties are the major challenge right now.

    “So we have gone into partnership with Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. They will produce the seedlings for us and IITA is also involved in the project.

    “After production, we have aggregators who will off-take the yams from the farmers and will aggregate for the exporters,’’ he said.

    Irtwange, who noted that over 20 per cent of exportable yams often rotted away because of poor preservation techniques, said that aggregators would have cooling systems for the produce.

    “Concerning the aggregators, what we require from them is that they will have warehouses, they will have cooling systems and they will store the yams under the correct temperature.

    “Through that way, we can also give assurance of the quality of what we are exporting.

    “The assurance is that we have done the trials, we have learnt from our mistakes and we have put in place measures to correct all the drawbacks.

    “The essence of the trials is to see where there are challenges, so that we can see how to solve the problems.

    “Now, we have known what the challenges are and we are going to face them squarely.

    “We have all learnt our lessons and we think that this year, the yam export programme is going to be better than what it was last year,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • Fire breaks out in Trump Tower

    Fire breaks out in Trump Tower

    A fire has broken out on the roof of the Trump Tower building in Manhattan, the New York Fire Department has confirmed.

    Firefighters are currently making sure it did not spread.

    The New York City Fire Department said that the fire started on the terrace and was quickly contained.

    U.S. President was not currently at Tower but at Washington. D.C. at the time of the incident.

    Read also: I’m a very stable genius, declares Trump

    While Trump and the First Family now live in the White House, he maintains a palatial apartment in the 58-story tower.

    So far, only one person has been reportedly injured in the fire incident in the building, which houses both residences and businesses.

    Smoke was captured pouring out of the 21st floor of the building and reports said investigators were looking into what may have sparked the blaze.

    NAN

  • Ilorin residents groan as fuel scarcity bites harder

    Ilorin residents groan as fuel scarcity bites harder

    Fuel scarcity has apparently not abated in Kwara, as parents and students among other residents, on Monday, expressed dissatisfaction with the lingering problem.

    Various motor parks including roadsides in Ilorin, passengers in their scores, were waiting to board the few available commercial vehicles.

    Some of the passengers and drivers said the fuel scarcity was becoming unbearable, as motorists continued to queue for petrol endlessly at filling stations.

    Anthony Ibe, a student of the University of Ilorin, said he had been on the queue for more than an hour without any hope of leaving soon.

    “My lectures start by 8 a.m., and this is after 10 a.m. and I am still waiting to get a cab to school.

    “The situation is getting out of hands; what is the essence of going to school when we are already missing lectures.

    “There have been a lot of push and fights here today, because everyone just wants to get into any available cab,’’ he said.

    Mrs Ireti Ademola, a parent with two school children bemoaned the situation, saying: “how do I cope with these children everyday without the ease of transportation?

    “I cannot carry both of them and at the same time struggle to get a cab, hence our little children are not left out in this suffering; they are already late.

    “I just hope this scarcity will come to an end soon or government  should just postpone resumption of schools,’’ she said.

    Read also: Fuel scarcity: ‘Attempt to arm twist the government’, cleric urges

    A student of Kwara State Polytechnic, Ismail Abdulkadir, said, “this is not encouraging at all, imagine going to school late because you cannot get a cab.

    “We, the students, are always at the receiving end, we have to trek long distances as well as pay higher transportation fare.

    “Please, how much is our pocket money that I have to pay more than N200 to and from school and very soon, the price of sachet water may increase.

    “This is just too much suffering to bear, the government should consider the plight of students and intervene in the lingering problem,’’ he said.

    At the College of Education in Ilorin, students also lamented the hike in transportation fare and dearth of commercial vehicles.

    A transporter, who simply identified himself as Sheu, blamed the increase in transport fare on the troubles motorists encountered before getting fuel.

    He said that most of the time, they had to sleep over at petrol stations in order to be able to get fuel early.

    “Sometimes, we slept over at petrol stations or even went out of the town to get fuel, because most of the filling stations here claimed they didn’t have fuel.

    “And we bought fuel at N200 per litre, black marketers sold five litres for N1,500, so you can imagine what we are passing through.

    “This is why transport fare has increased, remember that we also have to make profit,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Sokoto to distribute 3, 500 pasta-making machines to women

    Sokoto to distribute 3, 500 pasta-making machines to women

    The Sokoto State Government on Monday says it will distribute 3,500 pasta-making machines to women as part of its poverty alleviation programme.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal said in a statement issued by his media aide, Imam Imam in Sokoto that the beneficiaries would be drawn from across the state.

    According to the governor, the administration has pursued the poverty alleviation programme consistently through the introduction of vocational skills for women and youths in the state.

    He said that the state had made a name for itself as centre for social welfare interventions.

    “This is aimed at transforming the lives of the less-privileged and also reducing dependency on handouts.

    Read also: Sokoto distributes 22 boats to enhance transportation

    “The underlying theme behind government’s poverty eradication strategy is to create job opportunities and sustainable means of livelihood for the vast majority of the populace.

    “This principle has guided government’s policy since it came on board over two years ago,” the governor said.

    According to him, the government will procure thousands of units of sewing machines, grinding machines and additional 400 units of tricycles for disbursement in all the 23 local government areas.

    Tambuwal added that the government would reactivate existing cottage industries this year to train youth on various youth empowerment programmes.

    NAN

  • Schools reopen in Maiduguri for 2nd term academic session

    Schools reopen in Maiduguri for 2nd term academic session

    Borno State Ministry of Education had directed the re-opening of primary and secondary schools on January 8, after the Christmas and New Year break.

    Academic activities resumed in most schools in Maiduguri metropolis, including temporary learning centres at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

    In his comment, Alhaji Bulama Abiso, the Chairman, Borno chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), tasked teachers to comply with the resumption calendar.

    Abiso said the teachers should ensure that they report to their posts and dedicate themselves to duty.

    He also called on the state government to implement the N18, 000 minimum wage and pay the annual increment and promotion arrears to teachers particularly at basic education level.

    Abiso noted that such measures were necessary to motivate teachers to put their best toward enhancing academic excellence.

    “We commend the government over the reconstruction and rehabilitation of school structures destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    “Improvement of teachers’ welfare is imperative to provide enabling teaching and learning environment,” Abiso said.

    Also, Master Abba Ahmad, a class 4 pupil at Sanda Kyaremi Primary School, expressed joy over the school resumption.

    Ahmad said they were provided with bags and instructional materials by development organizations.

    Maryam Muhammad, a 16-year old displaced person, called on the government to adopt proactive measures to enhance enrolment of displaced children in school.

    She noted that some of the displaced children were attending classes in temporary learning centres at the Bakassi IDP camp.

    “Most of us could not attend classes due to lack of space at the centre, I want to go back to school and called on the government to help me”.

    Statistics of the United Nations Children Education Fund ( UNICEF ) showed that over 2, 295 teachers were killed and 19, 000 others displaced during years of insurgency in the state.

    It also indicated that 1, 400 schools were destroyed since the start of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009.

    The UN agency indicated further that three million children in the northeast are in need of support to keep learning.

    It revealed that the organization was working closely with the government and partners to put children in the northeast back into learning environments.

    According to the report, more than 525, 000 children had been enrolled in school in the 2017/2018 academic year, while over 37 temporary learning centres have been established, and about 92, 000 packs of learning materials distributed to help children continue their education.

    “UNICEF’s education response in the northeast remains critically underfunded, with just 54 per cent of the $31.4 million appeal received, leaving a funding gap of $14.4 million,” it added.

    NAN